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After almost three years of negotiations, Frontier Airlines and its pilots announced the ratification of a new five-year working agreement on Thursday. The contract was agreed upon by Frontier and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which is representing Frontier’s pilots, in November 2018. Frontier reported that 99 percent of its pilots voted on the contract, with 77 percent in favor of the agreement. The new contract includes an average 53 percent across-the-board pay increase, along with a $75 million ratification bonus. It goes into effect on Jan. 16, 2019.

“With this agreement, Frontier pilot compensation now reflects the pilot market,” said chairman of ALPA’s Frontier Master Executive Council, Tracy Smith. “Our new contract retains superior work rules and scheduling flexibility and improves our retirement, benefits and job security. Thanks to the commitment and unity of our pilot group and the financial and professional resources supplied by our union, we now have an agreement that recognizes the importance of Frontier pilots to the airline.”

According to ALPA, the negotiations, which underwent federal mediation through the National Mediation Board for two years, were often contentious. Last July, the union filed a lawsuit against Frontier management for bad-faith bargaining. The suit was dropped once a tentative agreement was reached.